Business Park has first tenant; Transmission line sub-contractor signs short term lease

On Dec. 5 the City Council approved a short-term lease agreement with L.E. Meyers, making the construction company the first tenant in the newly completed Greensburg Business Park.

Comment

By Patrick Clement

Kiowa County Signal - Kiowa County, KS

By Patrick Clement

Posted Jan. 6, 2013 at 8:40 PM
Updated Jan 6, 2013 at 8:42 PM

By Patrick Clement

Posted Jan. 6, 2013 at 8:40 PM
Updated Jan 6, 2013 at 8:42 PM

Greensburg, Ks.

On Dec. 5 the City Council approved a short-term lease agreement with L.E. Meyers, making the construction company the first tenant in the newly completed Greensburg Business Park.

Council members unanimously approved a renewable one-year lease without discussion.

Meyers will lease four lots from the city for $1,000 per month. The lease began upon approval and trailers were moved onto the property within days.

While the city has offered incentives such as $1 annual rent and free utilities for potential long-term tenants, the city's agreement with Meyers does not include incentives.

It is unclear whether the $1,000 per-month is a discounted rate.

Meyers is not allowed to build a permanent structure on the property and would be required to return the lot to original condition upon termination of the lease.

Kiowa County officials recently had "same condition" issues with Shooting Star Wind farm operator Excelon, in regards to a stretch of the Mullinville blacktop.

The contract between the city and Meyers includes language that may prevent a future disagreement.

Section four requires Meyers to remove "any temporary facility and all rock, gravel or other substances placed on the Leased Premise. Lessee shall grade and level and replant any damaged or destroyed grass."

The business park has not had a tenant since it was completed earlier this year, so starting condition should be easy to determine.

Meyers will be responsible for all of the taxes on the leased lots and all utilities.

Mayor Bob Dixson mentioned that city officials, including city administrator Ed Truelove, had negotiated the contract with Meyers and it had met with the company's approval prior to presentation to the council.

Meyers will use the site for offices and storage of machinery and equipment related to their contract with International Transmission Company (ITC).

Meyers, which previously completed a $16 million 225-mile transmission project between Spearville and Hayes for ITC, is constructing a high voltage power line between the Thistle substation in Medicine Lodge, the Clark County substation and the Spearville substation. The route passes through the southern part of Kiowa County.

The nearly 122-mile transmission line will eventually connect southwestern wind farms with eastern state energy markets and is expected to be online in 2014.

Meyers' offices in the business park will act as a staging area for machinery and equipment.